ØIndia successfully test-fired its
indigenously developed HeliNa anti-tank missile at the Pokhran Range in
Rajasthan.

About
news:

ØThe HeliNa stands for
Helicopter-launched Nag, and is a variant of the land-launched Nag anti-tank
guided missile.

Ø"The weapon system has been
tested for its full range.

ØThe 'HELINA' weapon system released
smoothly from the launch platform has tracked the target all through its course
and hit the target with high precision.

ØAll the parameters have been
monitored by the telemetry stations, tracking systems and the
Helicopters," read a statement from the Ministry of Defence on the tests.

ØThe HeliNa is designed to be launched
from the helicopters operated by the Indian Army Aviation Corps. It has been
designed to be launched from the HAL Light Combat Helicopter, the HAL Dhruv and
its armed variant, HAL Rudra.

ØThat means once locked on to a target
before their launch, they have onboard systems that would help track the
target's movements and make changes to their trajectory to ensure a hit.

ØWhile Sunday's tests of the HeliNa
were for the 'lock-before-launch' function, the Nag is also capable of being
programmed for a different target after it has been launched towards a
previously locked-on target.

ØNag and HeliNa are top-attack
missiles, meaning they will fly over the target and make contact from above.

ØThis is an especially key functionality
for anti-tank weapons, considering most tanks and armoured vehicles are heavily
armoured on all sides, and feature relatively shielding on their tops.

ØThe Nag, the land-operated system
from which HeliNa is derived, is also undergoing trials, and is yet to be
inducted into the Indian Army. The weapon system has been in development since
the 1980s.

ØATGMs range in size from
shoulder-launched weapons, which can be transported by a single soldier, to
larger tripod-mounted weapons, which require a squad or team to transport and
fire, to vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems.

ØThe introduction to the modern
battlefield of smaller, man-portable ATGMs with larger warheads has given
infantry the ability to defeat light and medium tanks at great ranges; though
main battle tanks (MBTs) using composite and reactive armors have proven to be
resistant to smaller ATGMs.

Expected
prelims question

HeliNa is in
news recently. It is related to

a)Torpedo

b)Anti-tank guided missile

c)Canister ballistic submarine

d)None of above

Ans - b

Expected
mains question

Describe
about Anti Tank Guided Missiles? Add a note on features of indigenously
developed HeliNa an Anti-tank missile.